The quake hit at 12.24 pm local time (0324 GMT), 337 kilometres (210 miles) west northwest of Chichi-shima in Japan's remote Bonin island region at a depth of 478 kilometres. There were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

The USGS originally said the quake was magnitude 6.9, but later revised its figure, informs, AFP informs.

According to the country's meteorological agency, they have not received reports of damaged houses and infrastructures or any person killed or injured. They have not issued a tsunami warning.

Japan is among the world's most earthquake-prone nations. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 1995 killed more than 6,000 people in the city of Kobe, The News Chronicle reports.